As we approach the end of our predator season at Ndutu we can reflect on how the climate is starting to change slightly year on year. This is an El Nino year and we felt the effects recently with some very early rains which came on 1st October. We had a huge downpour of 20 mil in one day. Last year for example the first rain only came on 12th Oct.
As a result the area around the lodge has already been springing into green with the arrival of the stunning scadoxus or fireball lilies which are popping up around the lodge, beautiful flashes of colour and a hint of what is to come.
<<< A Scadoxus Lilly in front of the lodge indicating rain is on the way!
With the rain comes the blossom and with the flowers comes the bees. We welcome bees to Ndutu and have 15 hives actually at the lodge all of which are prepared and ready to welcome in the bees.
Our beehives are all made from scrap and so the recycling of materials gets a new life as a home for our industrious bees.
We produce and enjoy large quantities of honey at Ndutu, many of which comes from the Acacia flowers in the area which makes a honey which is particularly high in glucose. Indeed many of you will have enjoyed it from our breakfast table. Did you know that it takes bees over 1 million separate foraging trips to create 1 jar of honey, hence the phrase busy bees!
Since we installed our new solar system is has been making use of the weather and operating at full steam so our regular guests will notice 24 hour power at the lodge. This has been a very gratifying step for us, reducing our heavy reliance on our diesel generators and significantly reducing our carbon footprint. This is just another part of our green initiatives at the lodge which range from water collection and purification to a future bio gas project.
In December last year we proudly launched the new Ndutu Gym, Spa and Wellness Centre which has been a resounding success. Whilst we never tire of the spectacle of our incredible resident wildlife it is lovely to have this space where our guests can step out of vehicles and enjoy a relaxing massage with one of our expert team Khadija, Winled or Rehema. Feedback from our guests has been wonderful so don't forget to book in when you are next at the lodge.
Moving from lodge news to wildlife news our resident predators of Ndutu never fail to amaze us and most recently we enjoyed a skirmish between a leopard who had actually killed one of the first wildebeest to come into the area. She had dragged the beast up a tree but was thwarted in her attempts to keep the kill as a mother and cubs from the Big Marsh pride spooked her from the kill and enjoyed it themselves. This kind of behaviour reflects the strength of the Big Marsh pride and their growing numbers. The wonderful team at Kope Lion are continuing to work tirelessly to support the local communities around Ndutu. They also do vital research and help avoid any community conflict with the lion populations. Pictured below is Ndolok who is one of the Kope Lion team who, with his team, works with the team of 30 Ilchocuti (lion guardians) who report back to their communities the whereabouts of the collared lions. This work is always particularly important as the area become drier and the pressures on cattle and wildlife increase.
For the past few months we have welcomed into our team 2 new young ladies - Zippi (pictured below) and Maggie who are training up to become our in-house resident Ndutu wildlife guides. With so much going on with our local wildlife populations we are excited to enhance our guests' stay but having Zippi and Maggie on hand to accompany guests on their local game drives and share stories directly with guests about the lion populations etc. Zippi and Maggie are going through an intensive training process as the moment working alongside Kope Lion and the Serengeti Cheetah project teams.
“I am so excited to have the opportunity as the first female guide here at Ndutu in what has been a traditionally male dominated world. I have learnt a huge amount at Ndutu already and am excited learn more and share it with the Ndutu guests. I am the first woman in my family to have graduated and my family are so proud to see what I have achieved so far. For Maggie and I, we see it as a really important opportunity to demonstrate female empowerment and to be a great example to other women where we can help and inspire other women to work in tourism and conservation. “ - Zippi
Finally, as we start to head towards the festive period and nudge towards migration season, we wanted to take the opportunity to wish you all a very happy time over the coming weeks. We have been welcoming back our friends and wildlife lovers for an astonishing 56 years since 1968, can you believe it ? We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
For more info on Ndutu Safari Lodge, please contact Charlie Morison on 01931 713288 or via charlie@campbell-bell.com
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